BEIRUT (AP) — An attack on pro-government fighters by suspected members of the Islamic State group in central Syria killed 22 pro-government fighters, an opposition war monitor and pro-government media reported Friday.
Gunmen attacked a bus carrying members of the Quds Brigade, a government and Russian-backed faction of mostly Palestinian fighters in Syria, near the town of Sukhna late Thursday night. Sukhna was once an IS stronghold.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility but both the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based opposition war monitor, and the pro-government radio station Sham FM said IS was behind the attack.
Both the Observatory and Sham FM said 22 fighters were killed. Sham FM said they were all Quds Brigade gunmen, while the Observatory said the majority belonged to the group.
The Quds Brigade fought on the side of Syrian government forces during the country’s 13-year conflict, which has killed half a million people and displaced half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million.
Trump hush money trial: Jury selection follows familiar pattern with an unpredictable outcome
New book chronicles ecological civilization along Lijiang River
This Morning's Alison Hammond cosies up to mystery man as pals claim she's 'never been happier'
Exhibiting how dragon got integrated into Tibetan culture
Goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán suspended for 11 games, fined for pointing laser at rival in Liga MX match
Record foreign visitors to Japan reported in February
Israel accused of deadly strike on Iranian consulate in Syria
MPs are urged to finally pass the Rwanda bill after 535 migrants cross the Channel on Sunday
Lenny Kravitz, 59, left Rita Moreno, 92, so giddy when they met that she 'nearly peed my britches'
Rescuers battling forest fire in China's Sichuan
Saints enter the NFL draft with questions along the offensive line
Medical insurance fund remains strong, despite aging population